TAKE ACTION: Sign onto a Petition to Demand the Immediate Dropping of Charges
The International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network (IJAN) protests in the strongest possible manner the arrest and detention of civil rights worker Rasmea Yousef Odeh, on October 22, 2013, from her home in Chicago.
Ms. Odeh, a Palestinian lawyer, arrived in the United States 20 years ago after suffering brutal arrest by the Israeli military for her work for Palestinian freedom and rights. Rasmea’s arrest led to years of unspeakable,inhumane, and illegal torture by Israeli prison authorities. Since her arrival,she has worked for the civil and human rights of Palestinians and Arabs. Since 2004, she has worked with the Arab American Action Network (AAAN) as the Associate Director. She also managed the Arab Women’s Committee of the AAAN and fought to defend women’s and immigrants’ rights. She recently won the Outstanding Community Leader’s Award from the Chicago Cultural Alliance.
Ms. Odeh was charged with an immigration violation, but we believe that this is an excuse to remove an effective human rights worker from the American society and instill fear in others who dare to work for human rights and equal rights for Palestinians. As with the Grand Jury subpoenas of the 23 Palestinian human rights and anti-war activists in Minneapolis and Chicago in 2010, the inhumanely long prison sentence of the Holy Land 5, and the infiltration and targeting of Muslim groups by FBI informants, the arrest of Ms. Odeh is meant to send a message to those who work for and believe in human rights for all people: the U.S. will not tolerate criticisms of its pro-Israeli policies and support.
This reflects a long history of collaboration between the United States and Israeli government, military and police in repressing popular movements for justice and liberty and organizations that work on their behalf. Beyond the Palestine liberation movement, this includes the Black Liberation Movement, the South African anti-apartheid struggle, the United Farm Workers, the Center for Constitutional Rights and countless others. Most recently, the US National Security Administration was exposed for spying on its general population and sharing the information it gathers with the State of Israel. The lead contracting agencies the NSA partners with in its spying are run by former personnel of the intelligence branch of the Israeli military.
IJAN calls on the US Attorney Barbara McQuade to drop the charges against and immediately release Rasmea Yousef Odeh, and the cessation of policies to instill fear inhuman rights activists and workers.
Please sign the petition at http://www.stopfbi.net/sign-petition-rasmea-odeh. Then, please take the following action items:
1. Call Barbara McQuade, U.S.Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, at 313.226.9501 or 313.226.9100, or email barbara.mcquade@usdoj.gov, to demand that she Drop the Charges Now!
Example script and talking points to use:
“Hello, my name is ________ and I am calling from _________. I am calling to demand that U.S.Attorney McQuade drop the immigration charges against Rasmea Yousef Odeh. She is a beloved leader in the community and has worked tirelessly to serve and help empower Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim families throughout the Chicagoland area.
Rasmea is a community icon and was recently awarded an “Outstanding Community Leader” award from the Chicago Cultural Alliance for her over 40 years of dedication and service to people across the Arab World and the U.S.
These charges are a political attack on her as an individual, and on Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim communities across the U.S. as a whole. I stand in unequivocal support of Rasmea and demand that these charges be dropped immediately!”
2. Send statements of support and solidarity to cppr@aaan.org.
3. Join us to pack the courtroom on either November 13 or 14 for Rasmea’s first hearing in Detroit. And if you cannot make it to Detroit,participate in a national day of action to support Rasmea wherever you are. Stay tuned for the specifics.
4. Like this Facebook page and tweet with the hashtag #justice4rasmea.
5. Send us your pictures holding up the following message:
“I am ________ and I support Rasmea!”
You should fill in the blank with a self-identifier: your name, your occupation, or any other description. Some examples are “I am a stay-at-home dad and I support Rasmea!” “I am a youth organizer and I support Rasmea!” and “I am a supporter of Palestinian human rights and I support Rasmea!”
Hold the sign up and snap a selfie,then send it to cppr@aaan.org. Put it up as your Facebook/Twitter profile pic, Google Account image, or anything else! Just remember we may use your image in future publications and informational pamphlets that get published online or distributed as hard copies.
6. Stay tuned to www.stopfbi.net for updates on the case, and for more information about our work upholding Palestinian rights to Equality, Self-Determination, and Return, and defending Rasmea and other Palestinians under attack, go to www.uspcn.org.
